33 Reasons to Plan a Eurail Christmas Market Trip in 2019

Europe is both the birthplace of many of the world's most cherished holiday traditions (Christmas carols, gingerbread and Christmas trees for starters) and the home of wintry scenes straight out of a snowglobe, making it the hands-down best place to go to get into the holiday spirit.

And each year, the most festive place to be on the continent is at a Christmas market. Come late November, these markets spring up in squares and courtyards across the continent and are filled with chalets selling seasonal gifts, the sounds of seasonal cheer and the smell of mulled wine, roasted chestnuts & cinnamon.

Since nothing can top the romance of taking the train in Europe and so many of the Christmas markets are located in city centers-right near train stations-there's no better way to experience the markets than with a Eurail pass.

The following are thirty-three other great reasons why.

Montreux is world famous for its summertime jazz festival, but they definitely know how to do winter cheer here, too. It's a short walk from the Gare de Montreux station to the Christmas market which is located on the shores of Lake Geneva. Do laps of the lakeside chalets, sampling an array of freshly-baked treats and vin chaud (mulled wine) before heading to the water as dusk approaches to admire the view of the modern Christmas tree and surrounding mountains.

When the sun sinks behind the Alps, Santa Claus takes to the sky to "fly" over the market several times each night. He stops overhead to strum his guitar, sing and send his best wishes to the crowd below all while beautiful Belle Epoque hotels like the Grand Hotel Suisse-Majestic glow in the background.

Make a beeline for Le Coucou-a fireplace-filled chalet restaurant and hotel that overlooks Lake Geneva-to dip into some of their signature truffle & champagne fondue. Pair it up with a glass of local white wine (the region is renowned) and you will probably be talking about the meal for the rest of your trip.

One of the best things about seeing the Christmas markets of Europe with a Eurail pass is the ability to design your own dream itinerary. With Eurail, you aren't tied down to a pre-determined list of destinations like you are on an organized tour or cruise because it's all up to you. In short, if a destination has a Christmas market and a train station, it has a shot to be a stop on your trip.

Despite their reputation as straight-laced financiers, Zurich residents still find plenty of time to make merry throughout December. Join them to toast to the season in the winding lanes of the old town-which play host to a handful of markets-or belt out tunes with them at the city's real-life singing Christmas tree.

Most European Christmas markets are set up in town squares or public spaces, but you will stumble across a few inside train stations, which is really, really convenient for Eurail riders. Zurich has the most famous example as the market inside the main station features dozens of stalls and a dazzling Christmas tree adorned with Swarovski crystal icicles.

Not all stations go over the top like Zurich, but most of them will get decked out in December. Fully-trimmed Christmas trees, strands of sparkling white lights and other seasonal touches are common and are sure to elevate your spirits. In Switzerland, it's common to find chocolate shops inside the station, which are the perfect place to pick up a snack for the journey ahead or a gift for somebody back home.

Switzerland's capital positively shines come wintertime. Bern's bendy streets become even more romantic when they are strewn with Christmas decorations and if you get lucky enough to see the city's medieval fountains covered in fluffy snow, you'll see just what makes this city so wonderful in winter.

Bern Bahnhof is a wonderland unto itself and located a stone's throw from the station is the Stars Market. This cool Christmas market is located within the grounds of Kleine Schanze park and features a grotto complete with waterfall and stalls selling gourmet food and drink. There's also a view of the Bernese Alps in the distance.

The small Swiss town of Huttwil may only host a Christmas market for a few days each year, but they really make those days count. Dozens of chalets fill the town's market square, serving up ladlefuls of made-from-scratch mulled wine (some of the best this author has ever tasted), steaming hot mushroom risotto and much, much more.

You might just be one of the only tourists from outside of Switzerland there and that's part of the reason your visit is destined to be extra special.

Taking in the view is half the fun of riding the rails in Europe and during December, you can expect to see scores of scenes that look like they were taken straight from a Christmas Village. Small towns festooned with twinkling lights, onion-domed churches in snow-dusted valleys and rustic chalets are just the tip of the iceberg on an early morning train from Zurich to Austria. Speaking of Austria ...

When you are traveling with a Eurail pass in Austria and somebody mentions to you that the nearby town of Steyr hosts a very atmospheric Christmas market, you can drop everything and go. There's no need to buy a ticket or worry about logistics, you just walk into the nearest station, look at the departures board and jump aboard.

Once there, you are sure to fall in love with the quaint market on the gorgeous town square that features a chalet selling tasty local venison bratwurst and schnapps.

From passes that cover a single country to the Global Pass that covers all participating 31 countries, Eurail offers endless possibilities. And the one thing they all have in common is the ability to-once you have purchased your pass-just hop on the train you want without any fuss or stopping to buy a ticket first. The only exceptions: premium, high-speed trains on very popular routes, which may require a seat reservation.

Many European trains have dining cars and they are just as romantic as they look in the movies. Some have even been done up with vintage flair, featuring bulbous lights and oversized windows that offer sweeping views of the passing countryside.

It's a fact that the best way to arrive in Prague is with a glass of Czech pilsner in your hand. Okay, it's not a proven fact, but you'll certainly enjoy testing the hypothesis.

By now, seemingly everybody and their brother has heard about how beautiful Prague is. The good news? Everything they say about the City of Hundred Spires is true. Simply put, there aren't many experiences in Europe that can top the feeling you'll get when you see the skyline of Prague in person. And at Christmas, the city gets bedecked in bows.

The Christmas market at Prague's Old Town Square features a towering Christmas tree that puts on a light show, but there are other markets around town where you can see a slightly less-touristed side of the city. In the Vinohrady neighborhood, you can sip hot punch in the shadow of a handsome church-both the neo-gothic Church of St. Ludmila or the modern Church of the Most Sacred Heart of Our Lord host markets-at a fraction of the price downtown.

You don't have to spring for a first-class Eurail pass, but it's more than worth it. First class is a little quieter and roomier than second class and sometimes you even get served complimentary bottles of water or get to enjoy on the house WiFi. You are also sure to appreciate the extra legroom.

The other benefit of hopping on-and-off the train without worrying about tickets? When your plan is to take an early train, but after a night spent sipping mulled wine at the Christmas markets, the crazy-comfy bed at Miss Sophie's Hotel just keeps calling your name, you just sleep in and take the next one. Dresden will still be there in the late afternoon.

A short and very scenic train ride from Prague through an area called the "Saxon Switzerland", Dresden is world renowned for its Strizelmarkt Christmas market. It dates all the way back to 1434 and lives up to the hype as it is a wonderland of holiday huts selling handmade wooden gifts from the nearby Ore Mountains, festive food, and the city's famous stollen bread.

Stollen, the delicious fruit-and-almond bread that we all associate with Christmas, has long been associated with Dresden. At the Dresden Christmas Market, there is an annual stollen parade, which sees a giant version of the bread carried through the streets by local bakers. Pick yourself up a slice (or loaf) at almost any of the numerous market stalls.

Things get even more atmospheric in Dresden when you head to the Christmas market in front of the city's famous Frauenkirche church. Here, the stalls take on a more artisan feel, with crowds lining up for beer mixed with a warm, spiced punch and local specialty handbrot-a baked bread roll stuffed with cheese and other tasty fillings.

Once you've purchased your Eurail pass, the next thing to do is download the official Rail Planner App. This little miracle works offline and provides invaluable information about train times, routes and the details of other benefits of traveling by Eurail. Speaking of …

In addition to the thrill of simply riding the rails at Christmas, your Eurail pass unlocks numerous other discounts or perks across the continent. In some countries (for first class pass holders) this means access to a rail station lounge to relax in before your journey. In other cases, it could mean discounts on cruises, shopping, walking tours and accommodation.

A quick regional train from Dresden and you are in the town of Gorlitz Germany. Gorlitz sits directly on the border with Poland-in a traditional region called Silesia-and it offers a truly unique experience. The Christmas market here usually takes place for two weeks in December and it is located in the town's historic market square, which is surely one of the prettiest in all of Germany. At Christmas, this town feels part German, part Polish, all enchanting.

Even if you've never been before, Gorlitz is bound to feel a little familiar. A large chunk of the movie The Grand Budapest Hotel was filmed here and it has also made appearances in Inglorious Basterds, The Reader, and Monuments Men. Why? The town escaped major damage in World War II and as a result, has scores of original period buildings. And just like the folks from Hollywood, you're destined to quickly fall in love.

Late November to mid-December is not exactly a peak time for travel in Europe, so the trains won't be as crowded as they could have if been if you came in summer. You may even get lucky and have a compartment all to yourself.

A short train ride from Dresden, the Ore Mountains is the name of a region full of rolling hills and charming mining towns that are steeped in holiday traditions-most famously wooden toy making. In addition to nutcrackers (yes, you can thank the Ore Mountains for that nutcracker on your mantle), candle arches and smokers (incense burners that "blow" smoke through their mouth) are also made here. Almost all of the towns in this special region host a Christmas market.

Freiberg offers a fantastic introduction to the Ore Mountains. The town possesses a rich heritage of silver mining and the Christmas market on the main square is full of local character. Once you've explored the market, pop into Rosterei Momo-located just off the main square-for a warm-up. Here, a smiling staff serves mugs of delicious coffee from around the world.

Keep an eye out for the many decorations featuring miners at the Freiberg Christmas market and make sure to take in the historical display outside the town square that offers up an insight into the history of the town. Like many cities in the Ore Mountains, Freiberg also hosts a miner's parade on one special day in December and this is the highlight of the seasonal calendar. Plan your trip accordingly.

This underrated yet ridiculously cool city is a great place to be at Christmas. Whether you want to hang in the handsome town square or party the night away in St. Pauli district, there's a Christmas market here for you.

After years of lying tantalizingly out of reach of Eurail riders, as of 2019, the United Kingdom is officially part of the party. Take in the bright lights and Hyde Park Christmas in London before taking the train to Bath for their classy market. Then, head up north to Manchester for a myriad of Christmas markets in the city center. Or just take the train to a small village and watch a carol service with locals.

You don't read about things going down in price often, but Eurail just pulled it off. And it's not a sale either, 2019 ushered in an era of new, lower prices, making the magic of travelling by train in Europe that much more affordable. Consider it an early Christmas present.